Technical Advisory Group for Air Quality
The review of the air quality standards was supported by an independent technical advisory group comprising the following members:
- Phil Barry – Chair (Financial & economics adviser and independent consultant)
- Kevin Mahon (Manager, Air Policy, Auckland Regional Council)
- Dr Deborah Read (Public health physician and independent consultant)
- Lawrence Yule (Mayor, Hastings District Council)
- Kevin Rolfe (Director, Kevin Rolfe & Associates and independent consultant)
The role of the technical advisory group was to make recommendations to the Minister within the terms of reference for the review.
Biographical information on the members of the Technical Advisory Group (as at June 2009)
Phil Barry – Chair of the Technical Advisory Group
Mr Barry is a Director at Taylor Duignan Barry, an independent consultancy that provides corporate finance and economic advice. Mr Barry holds an MBA from the University of Rochester, New York and a BA (Hons) 1st class in economics from the Victoria University of Wellington. Mr Barry has previously worked for both the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Treasury. Mr Barry held the post of Director for the Asset and Liability Management Branch at Treasury from 1996 and 1988. Mr Barry is an economist with strengths in both negotiation and analytical skills and experience in water allocation issues, competition policy issues and national cost benefit analyses. Mr Barry provides independent technical expertise for the group.
Lawrence Yule
Mr Yule is the president of Local Government New Zealand and has been Mayor of Hastings District Council since 2001. Mr Yule has particular interest in the air quality standards due to cost concerns with the proposed Hawkes Bay Regional Council proposed plan changes. Mr Yule brings a territorial authority perspective to the group.
Kevin Mahon
Mr Mahon is the Air Quality Policy Manager at the Auckland Regional Council with over 27 years experience in industrial air quality consents under the Clean Air Act 1972 and the Resource Management Act 1991. Mr Mahon holds a Masters of Science (in Physics) from the University of Waikato and is well versed in both the technical aspects as well as the practical implications of the regulations. Mr Mahon is further knowledgeable about transport issues that affect Auckland air quality.
Dr Deborah Read
Dr Deborah Read is a public health medicine consultant and is qualified in the area of public and environmental health and health risk assessment. Dr Read is currently a part time Medical Officer of Health for the Hutt Valley District Board and a public health medicine consultant. She was Deputy Chair of the Medical Council from 2002-8, and has been a member of the Environmental Risk Management Authority since 2006. Dr Read is also Chair of the Ministry of Health’s Organochlorines Technical Advisory Group and has just finished an appointment to the Board of Inquiry for the Upper North Island Grid Upgrade proposal. Dr Read provides public heath expertise to the group.
Kevin Rolfe
Kevin holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Canterbury, a Masters of Applied Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Melbourne as well as multiple certificates in financial, management and economics areas. Kevin has first hand experience with the air quality standards as applied through his recent work as a Commissioner for a resource consent application in Nelson. Kevin has also previously worked in the public health arena with his appointment as an air quality management specialist to the World Health Organisation in Kuala Lumpur. Kevin provides significant air quality expertise to the group.
Last updated: 29 January 2011
